Team Lead (Emergency Preparedness and Response Team)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 122,264 USD and 157,634 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Purpose of the Post:

In the context of the WHO Emergency and Preparedness and Response (EPR), the incumbent will have overall responsibility for coordinating the planning, management, adaptation and implementation of strategies and work plans required to for development and maintenance of critical health systems, emergency risk management and International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities, throughout the full cycle of the emergency, at the country level. In coordination with the respective Regional office Emergency Focal Points/desks and HQ emergency focal points/desks the incumbent will support the Ministry of Health, WHO and Partners to strengthen preparedness and response capacities through a multi-hazard, multisectoral approach which is aligned to international frameworks including IHR, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC). The incumbent will be deployed to emergency operations when required.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

The mission of WHO’s EPR (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

Organizational Context (Describe the work environment, the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making, and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization):

Reporting to the Head of WHO Country Office, and in close coordination with the respective regional office, country office and WHO/HQ and input from the emergency team, the EPR Lead directs and coordinates WHO overall emergency response and recovery activities. He/she provides strategic leadership to the health sector/cluster response in support of national and local health authorities and is responsible for all aspects (operational, technical, and programmatic) of the emergency programme at the country level. During the response to an acute event, the EPR Lead may also been appointed as the event Incident Manager, in which case he/she will also have responsibility for managing the emergency response including provision of strategic leadership to the health sector/cluster response in support of national and local health authorities. This requires building dynamic and efficient teams to bolster WHO’s emergency management and recovery operations, extensive and ongoing contacts with officials and representatives from health cluster partners and other cluster leads and coordinators, other policy staff and technical staff in partner agencies (both within and outside the UN system), senior staff of ministries of health (MOH) and related ministries to advocate and successfully influence national strategies. The incumbent will engage and closely collaborate with WHO senior management, regional office counterparts, heads of WHO country offices and external partners. The incumbent is expected to exercise full judgment in adapting or modifying relevant WHO guidelines and to lead the development of new policies and guidelines to meet requirements or changing circumstances. The present position under EPR (which is a single programme across the Organization) may be relocated to another duty station, including at Regional or Country level, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):

Strengthening and testing Emergency Response Systems:

1.Lead WHO’s emergency response program at national or subnational level.

2.Advise the Ministry of Health (MoH) on the establishment/strengthening of an Emergency Management System /Emergency Operation Centre (IMS/EOC) for multi-sectoral emergency response that includes staffing, defined roles/responsibilities, and resources for key functional areas. Support the regular testing of the emergency response system through functional exercises at the national and local levels.

3.Coordinate the development, distribution and use of Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for IMS functions and field activities to manage priority risks (including enhanced surveillance, investigation, and rapid response, contact tracing, sampling, infection prevention and control, outbreak vaccination, etc.).

4.Oversee the management and distribution of national medical stockpiles through stockpile management system.

Strengthening and testing Emergency Management Systems:

5.Coordinate all aspects of the emergency programme, at the country level, to ensure the concerted approach of WHO in the areas of emergency information management, Country preparedness and International Health Regulations (2005), risk assessments and Infectious hazard management.

6.Support national and local health authorities, partner with UN agencies, international, governmental and nongovernmental organizations/institutions, to:

•Strengthen the national capability to prepare and respond to health emergencies from all hazards, ensure the required national procedures, skills, coordination mechanisms and health systems are strengthened to manage identified risks.

•Assess and map existing and emerging health risks in the country and prepare a national risk profile based on a risk assessment.

•Assess health needs of affected populations in cooperation with technical units at RO and HQ level

•Assess capacities for emergency management, including preparedness, and develop a national Health Emergency Response Plan.

•Review the National Health Plan /National Health Emergency Response Plan as needed, take additional action, including the development of contingency plans for specific high priority risks.

•Mobilize and coordinate resources, oversee the operational and strategic planning of the health response plans, identify resource needs and funding gaps; encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.

7.Represent WHO to external stakeholders, including donors and partners, with respect to the country operations. Coordinate with other agencies and I/NGOs through the Health Cluster approach and directly as operational implementing partner.

Operations and Finance:

8.Lead the planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, operational and HR plans for the WHO's overall emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities. Manage sensitive issues arising from the emergency.

9.Oversee the development a detailed task-based work plan and budget for implementation of priority activities identified in the National Health Emergency Response Plan. Ensure the country has accessible contingency funds for immediate response to emergencies, including, outbreaks at national and other appropriate sites.

10.Determine staffing needs, ensure the mobilization of the required human resources. Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staff and experts. Take concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all WHO responders.

Monitoring and reporting:

11.In cooperation with other levels of response authorize the release of related information, communications, advocacy products and statements to internal and external partners as well as to the public.

12.Monitor and provide guidance and briefings to senior and elected officials as required, on the progress and implementation of preparedness and operational readiness activities in alignment with the national action plan and throughout the full cycle of the emergency, including financial and implementation tracking, and output/impact monitoring.

13.Perform all other related duties as assigned by WR.

RECRUITMENT PROFILE

Competencies (Describe the core, management or leadership competencies required - See WHO competency model – list in order of priority, commencing with the most important ones – identify a minimum of three and a maximum of five competencies):

1.Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

2.Communication

3.Respecting and promoting cultural differences.

4.Creating an empowering and motivating environment

5.Promoting WHO's position in health leadership

6.Teamwork.

Functional Skills and Knowledge (Describe skills and knowledge specific to the post):

•Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff.

•Excellent skills in the assessment, monitoring, analysis and evaluation of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and advocate their implementation.

•Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency incident management system.

•Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quickly comprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate comprehensive plans to address challenges/risks.

•Strong operational competencies in managing and coordinating humanitarian program cycle, including efficient human and financial resource management.

(Qualifications):

Essential: An advanced university degree in health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable: Specialized training in emergency and outbreak management; specific training in humanitarian response. Medical degree.

Experience:

Essential: At least seven (7) years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in multi-sectoral coordination, strengthening country capacities and responding to emergencies and disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters or complex emergencies. Experience in coordinating operational activities in preparedness and response with a range of actors.

Desirable: Relevant work experience with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners; experience working in relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations.

Languages:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable: Working knowledge of French or another WHO official language would be an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

Knowledge of office software applications.